The Pitfalls of Sympathy

Foolish sentiment, always getting in the way of a sound business deal. People waste their time and emotions on these pitiful wretches, never stopping to consider the true cost of their benevolence. I, on the other hand, know better. I see through the façade, the false pretenses, the weak-kneed charity. A man must be practical, not swayed by the whims of others. The foolish and the poor will always be there, and I’ll be there to reap the rewards, unencumbered by their emotional baggage.

Take my nephew, Fred, for instance. He thinks the world of those around him, and it’s a wonder he doesn’t get taken advantage of more often. He’s always inviting me to his gatherings, his Christmas celebrations, but I see through the nonsense. The only thing I’m interested in is the potential for profit, and he’s far too blinded by his own foolishness to see it. Bah humbug, indeed. His foolish notions of ‘kindness’ and ‘generosity’ only serve to make him a laughingstock.

And yet, people like my dear Fan, who briefly saw the light in my father, only to be disillusioned by his continued cruelty, they think that I’m the one who’s hardened, that I’m the one who’s lost. But I’m the only one who sees the world for what it truly is - a cold, hard, unforgiving place. I’m the only one who knows how to truly succeed, and that’s what makes me a master of my own destiny. I won’t be swayed by the weak and the foolish. I’ll keep on doing what I do best: making money, and making more money.